CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

CALCIUM

1. Supplementation with calcium (1200 mg) plus vitamin D (800 IU) was more effective than calcium alone in reducing systolic blood pressure in elderly women.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Apr;86(4):16337.
Effects of a shortterm vitamin D(3) and calcium supplementation on blood pressure and parathyroid hormone levels in elderly women.
Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW, Nachtigall D, Hansen C.

COENZYME Q10

2. Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (200 mg day for 6 – 12 months and 100 mg/day for 6 years) is beneficial in the prevention of chronic heart failure and can be tolerated without side effects.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999 Oct;53(10):764-70. 
Coenzyme Q10 in health and disease.
Overvad K, Diamant B, Holm L, Holmer G, Mortensen SA, Stender S.
PMID: 10556981

FOLIC ACID
(1 microgram = 0.001 milligrams)

3. A daily intake of folate (35 micrograms/day) is required to prevent increases in plasma homocysteine levels in the general population.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 1997 Oct;51(10):643-60. 
Folate intake in Europe: recommended, actual and desired intake.
de Bree A, van Dusseldorp M, Brouwer IA, van het Hof KH, Steegers-Theunissen RP.

MAGNESIUM
(1 gram = 1000 milligrams)

4. Administration of intravenous magnesium (10 mg per kilogram body weight) during and after cardiac surgery reduced the incidence of arrhythmias associated with surgery.

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1994 Apr;8(2):188-91. 
Magnesium and arrhythmias after coronary artery bypass surgery.
Casthely PA, Yoganathan T, Komer C, Kelly M.
PMID: 7515706

5. Administration of intravenous magnesium (2 grams) after cardiac surgery decreased ventricular dysrhythmias and increased the cardiac index compared to placebo recipients who required longer ventricular support and longer time in intensive care.

JAMA. 1992 Nov 4;268(17):2395-402. 
Magnesium administration and dysrhythmias after cardiac surgery. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial.
England MR, Gordon G, Salem M, Chernow B.
PMID: 1404796

QUERCETIN

Cell Study
(1 micromole = one-thousandth of a gram-molecule)

6. A combination of quercetin (10-20 micromoles per liter) and catechin (50-100 micromoles per liter) reduced platelet aggregation and adhesion to collagen which could be effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Nov;72(5):1150-5. 
Erratum in:
    Am J Clin Nutr 2001 Feb;73(2):360.
The flavonoids quercetin and catechin synergistically inhibit platelet function by antagonizing the intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide.
Pignatelli P, Pulcinelli FM, Celestini A, Lenti L, Ghiselli A, Gazzaniga PP, Violi F.

SELENIUM
Animal Study

7. A dose of selenium (1-2 mg per kilogram body weight) had an antiarrhythmic effect and reduced extrasystoles and flutter in pigs with induced myocardial infarction.

Kardiologiia. 1985 Sep;25(9):72-6. 
Effect of sodium selenite on the course of acute experimental myocardial infarct
Keler Kh, Diuk G, Kuklinski B, Peters G, Pole B.
PMID: 4079230

TAURINE
Animal Study

8. Hamsters with cardiomyopathy received taurine (0.1 mole) in drinking water for one month which decreased cardiac lesions.

Can J Neurol Sci. 1980 Nov;7(4):435-40.  (Animal Study)
Taurine decreases lesion severity in the hearts of cardiomyopathic hamsters.
Azari J, Brumbaugh P, Barbeau A, Huxtable R.

VITAMIN C

9. C-reactive protein (CRP) measures were taken before and after a high fat meal (similar to a Big Mac Meal). Participants who took vitamin E (800 IU) and vitamin C (1000 mg) before the meal had no increase in CRP compared to those who did not take vitamins.

Circulation. 2003 Jul 8;108(1):24-31. Epub 2003 Jun 23
Timing of antioxidant vitamin ingestion alters postprandial proatherogenic serum markers.
Carroll MF, Schade DS.

10. Supplementation with vitamin C (250 mg/day) for 6 weeks increased blood ascorbate levels thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Jun 28;294(5):1161-8.
Effects of oral vitamin C on monocyte: endothelial cell adhesion in healthy subjects.
Woollard KJ, Loryman CJ, Meredith E, Bevan R, Shaw JA, Lunec J, Griffiths HR.

11. This review suggests that daily vitamin supplementation of vitamin C (at least 140 mg), vitamin E (100 IU) and for cigarette smokers; gamma carotene (8.6 mg) could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ther Umsch. 1994 Jul;51(7):475-82
[Essential antioxidants in cardiovascular diseases--lessons for Europe]
Article in German
Gey KF, Stahelin HB, Ballmer PE.

VITAMIN D

12. A combination of calcium (1200 mg) and vitamin D (800 IU) was more effective than calcium alone at reducing systolic blood pressure, which could have implications in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Apr;86(4):1633-7. 
Effects of a short-term vitamin D(3) and calcium supplementation on blood pressure and parathyroid hormone levels in elderly women.
Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW, Nachtigall D, Hansen C.
PMID: 11297596

VITAMIN E/TOCOTRIENOL

13. Daily doses of vitamin E (800 IU) for 2 years reduced the incidence of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction in hemodialysis patients.

Lancet.  2000 Oct 7;356(9237):1213-8. 
Secondary prevention with antioxidants of cardiovascular disease in endstage renal disease (SPACE): randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Boaz M, Smetana S, Weinstein T, Matas Z, Gafter U, Iaina A, Knecht A, Weissgarten Y, Brunner D, Fainaru M, Green MS.
PMID: 11072938

14. Vitamin E has been shown to protect from oxidative stress and potentially cardiovascular disease. Doses of vitamin E (100 – 800 IU/day) are recommended. Supplements are recommended as a normal diet is not likely to provide more than 30 IU/day vitamin E.

Free Radic Biol Med.  2000 Jan 1;28(1):141-64. 
Vitamin E and heart disease: basic science to clinical intervention trials.
Pryor WA.
PMID: 10656300

15. Vitamin E alone (800 IU/day) has a similar influence on LDL oxidation as a combination of vitamin E (800 IU/day), vitamin C (1000 mg/day) and beta-carotene (30 mg/day). Thus vitamin E alone was favored over the combination.

Circulation.  1993 Dec;88(6):2780-6. 
Effect of combined supplementation with alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, and beta carotene on low-density lipoprotein oxidation.
Jialal I, Grundy SM.
PMID: 8252691

Animal Study

16. Compared to placebo, supplementation with vitamin E (2000 IU/day) over 10 days, or 72 hours before coronary surgery reduced myocardial infarct size and protected rabbits from myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Can J Cardiol.  1993 Jan-Feb;9(1):94-8. 
Myocardial infarct size reduction by single high dose or repeated low dose vitamin E supplementation in rabbits.
Axford-Gately RA, Wilson GJ.
PMID: 8439834

Animal Study

17. Rabbits given vitamin E (200 IU/day) for 10 days before coronary surgery had reduced myocardial infarct size and decreased ischemic reperfusion injury.

Cardiovasc Res.  1991 Feb;25(2):89-92. 
Reduction of experimental myocardial infarct size by oral administration of alpha tocopherol.
Axford-Gatley RA, Wilson GJ.
PMID: 1742768

18. A daily dose of vitamin E (45 IU) for 3 weeks could be beneficial in ischaemic heart disease.

Ups J Med Sci.  1991;96(2):103-11. 
Effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E on human neutrophil chemotaxis and generation of LTB4.
Luostarinen R, Siegbahn A, Saldeen T.
PMID: 1663672

ZINC

Animal Study

19. Dogs were given zinc (10 mg per kilogram body weight) 24 hours and 2 hours before coronary occlusion, which limited the size of myocardial infarct.

Indian J Med Res. 1991 Aug;94:316-9. 
Effect of zinc sulphate on infarct size in experimental myocardial infarction in dogs.
Lal A.
PMID: 1959965